Key Business Partners, LLC

As part of the blog tour I am conducting for Tina Forsyth, author of Becoming an Online Business Manager (Playing a Bigger Game with your Clients), I wanted the opportunity to interview her myself.

When I read Tina’s book, the compilation of information was well organized and concise to help those whom are virtual assistants understand if they are ready to take on the role of Online Business Manager. It also allows those looking for an online business manager know what to ask for when looking for this team member of their business.

Here are a few things I really enjoyed about the book:

In the first chapter, Tina’s offers a guide to illustrate if you could be ready (or not ready yet) to become an online business manager.

In the second chapter, she outlines the role of a online business manager. I liked this chapter because she puts a “sample” description for other business owners to recruit a online business manager.

The 3rd chapter is about how to get it started; knowing that it starts with knowing that being an online business manager is about treating your client’s business as your own and to have a strong understanding of your client’s business model—> love this!

Chapter 4 is about setting yourself apart and knowing how to express your uniqueness to others. I liked the statement at the beginning of this chapter.

It’s not always about what you do, but how you do it.

In Chapter 5 it can be related to a “gift bag”. Tina has filled this chapter with ideas on how to become more effective for virtual assistants to handle different situations with varying needs of clients.

Chapter 6 is about creating systems in your business and your client’s business as to make process improvements.

In Chapter 7, Tina discusses how a online business manager can build a team (under their leadership) to increasingly help with productivity in the clients’ business.

Chapter 8 is about looking at the numbers—all of them. Very important when you are in business. Too many times (and I have done this too) business owners get excited about products or services and they may start jumping, purchasing things instead of being more strategic about those decisions.

I really enjoyed Chapter 9 because it talks about compensation for virtual assistants. This chapter is about being aware of the worth of a virtual assistant (from beginners to experienced). It also goes more into the role of becoming a online business manager because you become more into the managerial role (overseeing a team of VA’s) for your client.

Chapter 10 is about the “industry” of being on online business manager and more about her story. I liked that she reiterates that it took her a couple of years to work up to making a high income (not that it was ever bad) and it wasn’t just overnight to larger income numbers.

In Chapter 11 Tina talks about creating a successful match client for you as an OBM.

Then in Chapter 12, she discusses about how to get started with a OBM client, and to possible do a “get to know you” project first. This ensures you are a good match for more long term relationship.

In the last chapter, Tina explains about being VERY CLEAR on what you want. She gives you 4 important questions for you to answer for yourself to get things started on the “road” to becoming an OBM.

I really enjoyed reading this book. As a former (and still occasional) virtual assistant, this book helped me realize quite a few things about the va industry. But it also allowed me to know how to express how to recruit my own online business manager.

Tina has a great new community for OBM’s called OBM Connects.

You will have to pick up a copy for yourself to receive some AWESOME other goodies she offers in the book. 25% off coupon for Pink Spoon Marketing book.

When you are promoting your business online or offline, it doesn’t have to be difficult or a frightful task to accomplish.

I have talked with other people about their promotional efforts and I hear things like, “Well, I don’t like to talk about myself”, or “I don’t know how to promote myself” or “there are so many others who offer the same thing I do”.

Ok–let’s break down each of these phrases and discuss how you can turn them around to promote yourself and your business in a way to get more clients.

How do I promote my business, when I don’t like to talk about myself?
Well, it is a good thing in promoting yourself and your business not to talk about yourself. At least at first. It isn’t about YOU.
It is about your potential client, their needs and their wants.
For example:You don’t want to go up to someone and blurt out, “Hi, my name is Teresa and I have this business that will just send people flocking to you if you do what I say”. NO, NO, NO!

A better way: Approach someone and say, Hi, my name is Teresa. I don’t believe we have met. So, please tell me about yourself. And why did you choose to come to this event today? What is your biggest challenge for your business right now? Remember, it is about them NOT you!

How do I promote my business when I don’t know how to promote?
This goes along with the same thing I mentioned above. When you are promoting your business, whether you are writing your newsletter, at a networking event or on the phone…remember that is about creating and building a solid relationship. Find a way to connect with another person about something not business related and don’t be thinking constantly about how to promote and SELL.
For instance, if you are selling purses, you necessarily wouldn’t go to a sports bar would you? Instead you may go to a nail or hair salon with your purse on your arm.

Take the opportunity to create connections with others and allow the connection to be the focus when meeting others, not promoting. Another thing is knowing who your target market is so you are in front of those who are looking for your services.

“There are so many people who do what I do, how do I promote my business?”
Well, you know the saying, there is only one of YOU.
Embrace your uniqueness and even if there are many other people who do what you do, they can’t express, display, showcase your business better than you. And while you are worrying about all the other “ones”, you are filling the time with these thoughts instead of how you can be there for your potential clients. Also, can you possibly take on all the possibly clients that are out there for your target market? Most likely not. Don’t fear your competition…I would even go so far as to befriend them. It makes for great joint ventures—wonderful win-win situations!

Do you have some more promotional questions that come to mind? Please share.

I took a little hiatus of doing the Free for All Friday posts but it is back now.

I wanted to do a tribute to Small Business Month so here are some places online to go and find some wonderful information, read posts, gain insight about small business.

Next week, Stacey Hylen will be conducting Business Optimization Week 2.0. A 4 day teleseminar series of speakers talking about Marketing and Mindset in a Troubled Economy. You can go and attend for FREE. There is an option to purchase the downloads after the event.
Some of the speakers listed are, The Blog Squad, Kim Castle, and Kendall Summerhawk.

Also, I wanted to tell you about Melody Campbell and her site The Small Business Guru. Melody’s site is filled with tons of great information for the new or experienced small business owner. She also has a weekly podcast show on Blog Talk Radio called Get More Business.

I am increasingly surprised at the power of Twitter and how it has helped me connect with other people. Here are a couple of people that I have met over the last week or so on Twitter.

Julie Roads -Julie is a freelance writer and her site is Writing Roads. She wrote a post called The Importance of Having Promotional Materials at the Ready . She leads the post off with an example. What if Dell computer came out and said, Hey come see our new computer! And then the masses went out and said, Ok, let’s see it and then they replied, “oh, well, we have to build it first”. I like this because my first reaction was, Hey, that would be pretty bad. And it did make me think, when people are coming to your site…are you saying, well, wait, I am not done yet. Follow her on Twitter at writingroads

Terri Zwierzynski of Solo-E
One of her authors, Kendall Summerhawk wrote a post recently about the economy entitled . It was so on point about now that the country is exposed we are at a cross road and NOW is the time to take the opportunity to become what you want instead of allowing the fear to overcome you.

Wendy Y Bailey of Group Mastery and I talked last week and we hit it off. She is a kind and smart women who is sharing her knowledge with other coaches to help make their group coaching better. Her latest post was Powerfully Persuasive Marketing Pumps Profits.. In this post, Wendy talks about thinking about the emotions when speaking and marketing. She has 6 questions she asks herself when persuasive marketing. Who is my audience? How does my audience feel? to name a few.